ai4bharat/Pralekha huggingface dataset:
Ministry of Finance
Finance Minister Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman concludes pre-Budget meetings for forthcoming Union Budget 2022-23
More than 120 invitees representing 7 stakeholder groups participated in 8 virtual meetings
Union Minister for Finance & Corporate Affairs Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman chaired the pre-budget consultation meetings for Budget 2022-23 held in virtual mode from 15th to 22nd December, 2021.
More than 120 invitees representing 7 stakeholder groups participated in 8 meetings scheduled during this period. The stakeholder groups include representatives and experts from Agriculture and Agro Processing Industry; Industry, Infrastructure and Climate Change; Financial Sector and Capital Markets; Services and Trade; Social Sector; Trade Union & Labour Organization and Economists.
Union Ministers of State for Finance Shri Pankaj Chaudhary and Dr. Bhagwat Kishanrao Karad, Finance Secretary Shri T.V. Somanathan; Secretary, DEA, Shri Ajay Seth; Secretary, DIPAM, Shri Tuhin Kanta Pandey; Secretary, Financial Services, Shri Debashish Panda; Secretary, Corporate Affairs, Shri Rajesh Verma; Secretary, Revenue Shri Tarun Bajaj and senior officers from Ministry of Finance were also present during the meetings. Secretaries of other Ministries/Departments concerned participated through online mode.
The stakeholder groups made several suggestions on various issues that included increased R&D spending, infrastructure status for digital services, incentives to hydrogen storage and fuel cell development, rationalisation of income tax slabs, investments in online safety measures etc., among others.
The participants lauded government’s efforts in efficient handling of the economy during the pandemic and retaining India’s status as the fastest growing major economy.
Finance Minister Smt. Sitharaman thanked the participants for sharing their valuable suggestions and assured that suggestions will be carefully considered while preparing the Budget 2022-23.
Ministry of Railways
RPF UNDERTAKES MONTH LONG PAN INDIA DRIVE AGAINST HUMAN TRAFFICKING DURING JULY 2022
Action under Operation AAHT by RPF led to rescue of 151 minor boys, 32 minor girls  and 3 women from the clutches of human traffickers with arrest of 47 Human Traffickers.
02 Rescued and 01 human trafficker arrested in ECoR jurisdiction in July’2022.
169 missing & run away were rescued in July 2022 including 140 Boys & 29 Girls from ECoR jurisdiction.
Human Trafficking, especially of Women and Children, for sexual exploitation, prostitution, forced labour, forced marriage, domestic servitude, adoption, begging, organ transplant, drug peddling among others is an organized crime and the most abominable violation of human rights. Indian Railways, being major transport network of the country, is being used by human traffickers for transportation of victims from source areas to destination areas.
RPF has a pan India reach under a unitary structure of command and control. Over the years, RPF has developed an efficient response mechanism for redressal of security related grievances of passengers. During last 5 years , RPF has rescued 2178 persons from the clutches of Traffickers besides rescue of more than 65000 children and scores of women and men in need of care and protection.
In order to leverage its strategic positioning at stations and in trains, its pan India reach and its response mechanism to supplement the efforts of Anti Human Trafficking Units  of police and other LEAs, RPF has recently launched an operation against Human Trafficking called "Operation AAHT". As part of this initiative, RPF has very recently set up 750 AHTUs across the country that would coordinate with Police, AHTUs functioning in Thana, District and State levels, Intelligence Units, NGOs and other stake holders and take effective action on Human Trafficking through rail. Recently RPF has signed a MoU with NGO i.e. Association of Voluntary Action  also known as Bachpan Bachao Andolan which will be supplementing RPF with training and will also be giving inputs regarding Human Trafficking to RPF.
In East Coast Railway jurisdiction, RPF has rescued 169 minors including 140 boys & 29 Girls. The above minors were fled away from their home or were missing. 65 runaway minors including 51 boys & 14 Girls and 104 missing minors including 89 boys & 15 Girls have also been traced and rescued by RPF in ECoR. Apart from this, 02 minor boys were rescued in July 2022 from the clutches of human trafficker and arrested one in this connection.
 and 3 women from the clutches of human traffickers with arrest of 47 Human Traffickers. The drive created a platform for all stake holders to come together to take joint action against Human Trafficking through rail. Synergy and smooth co-ordination among various agencies and stakeholders built during the drive will help in launching a sustained drive against human trafficking in future too.
Ministry of Agriculture &
Farmers Welfare
MSP Operations during Kharif Marketing Season 2020-21
In the ongoing Kharif Marketing Season  2020-21, Government continues to procure Kharif 2020-21 crops at its MSP from farmers as per its existing MSP Schemes.
Paddy procurement for Kharif 2020-21 has progressed smoothly in the procuring States & UTs of Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Telangana, Uttarakhand, Tamil Nadu, Chandigarh, Jammu & Kashmir, Kerala,Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Bihar with purchase of374.81LMTs of paddy up to 12.12.2020 against the last year corresponding purchase of 309.57LMT showing an increase of 21.07 % over last year. Out of the total purchase of 374.81LMT, Punjab alone has purchased202.77 LMT till the close of procurement season in the state on 30.11.2020 which is 54.10 % of total procurement in the country.
About 40.90 Lac farmers have already been benefitted from the ongoing KMS procurement Operations with MSP value of Rs. 70764.66 Crore.
Further, based on the proposal from the States, approval was accorded for procurement of 48.11 LMT of Pulse and Oilseeds of Kharif Marketing Season 2020 for the States of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Telangana, Gujarat, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Odisha, Rajasthan and Andhra Pradesh under Price Support Scheme . Further, sanction for procurement of 1.23 LMT of Copra  for the States of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala was also given. For other States/UTs, approval will also be accorded on receipt of proposals for procurement of Pulses, Oilseeds and Copra under PSS so that procurement of FAQ grade of these crops can be made at notified MSP for the year 2020-21 directly from the registered farmers, if the market rate goes below MSP during the notified harvesting period in the respective States/UTs by the Central Nodal Agencies through State nominated procuring agencies.
Upto 12.12.2020, the Government through its Nodal Agencies has procured154423.46MT of Moong, Urad, Groundnut Pods and Soyabean having MSP value of Rs. 829.57 Crores benefitting 87024 farmers in Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Haryana and Rajasthan.
Similarly, 5089 MT of copra  having MSP value of Rs.52.40 crore has been procured benefitting 3961 farmers in Karnataka and Tamil Naduupto 12.12.2020 as against the last year corresponding purchase of 293.34 MT of copra. In respect of Copra and Urad, rates are ruling above MSP in most of the major producing States. The respective State/UTs Governments are making necessary arrangements for commencement of procurement from the date as decided by the respective States based on the arrivals in respect of Kharif Pulses and Oilseeds.
Procurement operations of seed cotton  under MSP are going on smoothly in the States of Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan Madhya Pradesh,Maharashtra, Gujarat,Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha and Karnataka. Till 12.12.2020 a quantity of 4820208 cotton bales valuing Rs.1393952 Crore has been procured benefitting 931183 farmers.
Ministry of Defence
IAF effort to contain fire at Malviya Nagar
(Around midnight a request was received at HQ Western Air Command for containing a fire at Malviya Nagar in Delhi. A MLH class helicopter airborne from Sarsawadid a recce and landed at Palam. Thereafter heptr got airborne with Bambi Bucket to contain the fire.
The heptr filled water from Yamuna reservoir and dropped over the site. This had to be repeated thrice to contain the fire. This was the first time the Bambi ops was done in an urban situation wherein the nitty gritties of drop are very precise owing to high rises around and chances of collateral damage. The operations started this morning wherein helicopter flown by Wing Commander Pradeep Bhola of the Mighty Armourswas successful in dousing the fire.
A total of approx 8000 lts of water was dropped in this incident.
ARG/BBS
Ministry of Power
Union Power Minister and CM Bihar dedicate power units at NTPC Barauni & Barh to the nation
Shri R.K Singh Union Minister of Power and New & Renewable Energy and Shri Nitish Kumar, Chief Minister of Bihar dedicated Stage -II 500MW  of NTPC Barauni Thermal Power Station and Unit #1  of NTPC Barh Super Thermal Power project today to the nation.
Shri Rajiv Ranjan, M.P , Munger, Shri Ram Ratan Singh, Member of Legislative Assembly, Teghra, Bihar, Shri Raj Kumar Singh, Member of Legislative Assembly, Matihani, Bihar, Shri Gyanendra Kumar Singh, Member of Legislative Assembly, Barh, and other senior leaders of Barh and Barauni regions graced the occasion with their august presence. Senior officials of Bihar Govt, officials from the Govt of India and the eminent personalities of Bihar attended the ceremony as well.
Shri Alok Kumar , Union Secretary Power and Shri Gurdeep Singh, CMD, NTPC, Directors of NTPC and other senior officials were also present at both events.
NTPC Group has an installed capacity of 7970 MW in the state of Bihar and another 1980 MW is under construction.
Barh has total installed capacity of 3300 MW out of which 1320 MW is already under commercial operation since Mar' 16.
To accelerate the development of the Power sector and increase the availability of power and cost efficiencies for the larger benefit of people in the State of Bihar, the state government had transferred Barauni Thermal Power Station to NTPC Ltd on 15.12.2018
As part of its CSR initiatives, NTPC has taken up many Community Development  activities in the state of Bihar. These activities are primarily focussed in the area of Education, Health, Infrastructure development, drinking water, sanitation, Skill Development/ Vocational Training programmes, support to Physically challenged persons, etc. Further, various community development activities are at different stages of implementation in neighbouring villages of its projects. NTPC is also setting up a special burn unit at AIIMS Patna and constructing ITI in the Aurangabad district.
NTPC, a MAHARATNA Company of Govt of India, presently has an installed capacity of 67907 MW  and plans to become a 130 GW company by 2032.
Prime Minister's Office
Call on the Prime Minister by the Rt Hon Dominic Raab MP, UK Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs
The Rt Hon Dominic Raab MP, UK Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs called on Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi.
Recalling his recent telephone conversation with Prime Minister Boris Johnson, Prime Minister stressed the importance of the India-UK partnership in the post-COVID world. He called for an ambitious and outcome-oriented 360-degree roadmap covering trade and investment, defence and security, migration and mobility, education, energy, climate change and health, in order to tap the full potential of the bilateral relationship.
Foreign Secretary Raab conveyed greetings of Prime Minister Boris Johnson to the Prime Minister and thanked the Prime Minister for participating in the recently held Climate Ambition Summit co-hosted by UK. He also stressed the priority that the UK Government’s attaches to elevating relations with India, based on shared values and interests and the potential to address common global challenges together.
Foreign Secretary Raab took the opportunity to hand over a letter from Prime Minister Boris Johnson, inviting the Prime Minister to the G7 meeting to be chaired by UK in 2021. The Prime Minister thanked him and accepted the invitation.
The Prime Minister conveyed his keenness to receive Prime Minister Boris Johnson in New Delhi next month, on the occasion of India's 72nd Republic Day celebrations.
Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports
Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan to organize Kashmiri Youth Exchange Programme in Kolkata
Kolkata, September 17, 2018.
Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan, West Bengal, Kolkata will organize Kashmiri Youth Exchange Programme , with the assistance of Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India at Ramchandra Mission Ashrama, near Heritage School, Chowbhaga, Anandapur, Kolkata from September 18 to 22, 2018,said Shri Nabin Kumar Naik, State Director, NKYP here today. He added that the inaugural function of the said programme will be held tomorrow, September 18, 2018 at 11 AM in the venue mentioned above. He said that Minister of Consumer Affairs, Government of West Bengal, Shri Sadhan Pandey and Additional Director General , of Press Information Bureau, Government of India, Kolkata, Miss Jane Namchu will also be present on the occasion.
A total of 132 youth under the age group of 18 to 22 years from districts of Anantnag, Kupwara, Baramulla, Budgam, Srinagar and Pulwama will participate in the programme. The objective of this programme is to orient, sensitize and provide opportunities to the participants to act as proponents of national unity, integrity and peace among the young people of Kashmir valley. They will visit different places of cultural, industrial, historical, religious and educational importance.
North-East Youth Exchange programme and Tribal Exchange programme will also be held by NYKS in coming days. Under such programmes, youth will visit different places of the country to understand the socio-economic development, cultural ethos, language, lifestyles of the people depicting unity in diversity aspect of our national life and social and financial inclusion programmes of government.
Prime Minister's Office
PM dedicates INS Kalvari to the nation
The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today dedicated the naval submarine INS Kalvari to the nation, at a function in Mumbai.
Congratulating the people of India on this occasion, the Prime Minister described INS Kalvari as a prime example of "Make in India." He commended all those involved in its manufacture. He described the submarine as an excellent illustration of the fast growing strategic partnership between India and France. He said the INS Kalvari will add even more strength to the Indian Navy.
The Prime Minister said that the 21st century is described as Asia's century. He added that it is also certain that the road to development in the 21st century goes through the Indian Ocean. That is why the Indian Ocean has a special place in the policies of the Government, he added.
The Prime Minister said this vision can be understood through the acronym SAGAR - Security and Growth for All in the Region.
The Prime Minister said India is fully alert with regard to its global, strategic and economic interests in the Indian Ocean. He said that is why the modern and multi-dimensional Indian Navy plays a leading role in promoting peace and stability in the region.
He said the ocean's innate potential adds economic muscle to our national development. That is why, he added, India is well aware of the challenges such as sea-borne terrorism, piracy, and drug trafficking, that not just India, but other nations in the region also have to face. He said India is playing a key role in tackling these challenges.
He said India believes that the world is one family, and is fulfilling its global responsibilities. India has played the role of "first responder" for its partner countries, in times of crisis, he added. He said the human face of Indian diplomacy and Indian security establishment is our speciality. He said a strong and capable India has a vital role to play for humanity. He said countries of the world wish to walk with India on the path of peace and stability.
The Prime Minister said that the entire ecosystem related to defence and security has started to change in the last three years. He said the skill-set accumulated during the manufacture of INS Kalvari is an asset for India.
The Prime Minister said that the Government's commitment has ensured that the long pending issue of "One Rank One Pension" has been resolved.
The Prime Minister said that the Government's policies and the bravery of the Armed Forces have ensured that the use of terrorism as a proxy war in Jammu and Kashmir has not been successful.
The Prime Minister expressed his gratitude to all those who have dedicated their lives to the nation's security.
Ministry of Steel
Environment friendly Production of Steel
The Indian steel industry has over the years, undertaken cost effective and environment friendly production of steel through adoption of state-of-the-art technologies and research. The Indian steel industry is addressing the energy & environment issues through the adoption of energy efficient & environment friendly technologies in the plants through technological upgradation/modernisation/expansion. These measures undertaken by the Indian steel industry have also resulted in improvement in energy efficiency and reduction in Green House Gas  emission.
While steel companies are themselves addressing the issues, Ministry of Steel has facilitated improvement in the energy & environment scenario of steel plants through various mechanisms. Ministry of Steel is providing financial assistance to the industry, CSIR laboratories & academia for carrying out research in the iron & steel sector. Ministry of Steel has also facilitated adoption of the technologies for harnessing waste heat and reducing carbon footprint in the integrated steel plants in collaboration with Government of Japan. Ministry of Steel has also facilitated adoption of technologies for enhancing energy efficiency and reducing carbon footprint in the smaller steel plants in association with United Nations Development Programme .
There are two training institutes under the administrative control of Ministry of Steel i.e. Biju Patnaik National Steel Institute , Puri, Odisha and National Institute of Secondary Steel Technology , Mandi Gobindgarh, Punjab. These Institutes conduct short term training, workshops/ seminars in the field of steel technology.
This information was given by the Union Minister for Steel Shri Dharmendra Pradhan in a written reply in the Lok Sabha today.
Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways
Special Campaign 2.0 - More than 1 Lakh Plantation achieved this year as part of greenification by Paradip Port Authority
Paradip Port Authority will continue its Journey to remain in the forefront for realizing the dream of a Clean and Green Paradip. As part of ongoing Special Campaign 2.0 Shri P.L.Haranadh, Chairman, PPA today inaugurated the Township Sewerage Connection to STP near JB/JC Water Tank. Due to the connection of drains of the Port Township with the STP, the wastewater will not flow to the nearby natural streams resulting in fulfilling the dream of Zero Discharge.
As Paradip Port is thriving to add greenery year after year, 1,07,000 plantations of saplings was achieved till date in the current year. To mark the occasion, Shri Haranadh participated in a large-scale plantation program alongwith other officials.
Prime Minister's Office
PM reviews progress of the Namaami Gange Programme
The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, on Thursday evening, reviewed the progress of the Namaami Gange programme.
During the course of a presentation on the subject, senior officials from various Government departments apprised the Prime Minister of action taken so far, and progress made on this programme.
Officials said that the Sewage Treatment Capacity in towns along the river is being enhanced substantially. Considerable focus is being placed on large cities along the Ganga main stem, including Haridwar, Kanpur, Allahabad, Varanasi, Patna, Bhagalpur, Howrah and Kolkata.
Intensive monitoring and inspection of Grossly Polluting Industries has been taken up. Officials said that this has led to considerable improvement in the water quality of some of the tributaries of the River Ganga. Parameters such as “Dissolved Oxygen” and “Biochemical Oxygen Demand” have been studied as part of this assessment.
The Prime Minister was also apprised of the considerable progress made in Rural Sanitation in villages along the banks of the River Ganga. The Prime Minister stressed on the need to further increase public awareness and participation in the task of cleaning the River Ganga.
Top officials from the PMO, NITI Aayog, Ministry of Water Resources, Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation, National Mission for Clean Ganga and Central Pollution Control Board were present at the meeting.
Ministry of Earth Sciences
Severe Weather Warning
India Meteorological Department has issued severe weather warning for the five days as below:
07 April :♦ Heavy rain very likely at isolated places over Meghalaya.
♦ Thunderstorm accompanied with squall and hail very likely at isolated places over Gangetic West Bengal, Jharkhand and Odisha.
♦ Thunderstorm accompanied with squall very likely at isolated places over Bihar, Assam & Meghalaya and Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram & Tripura.
♦ Thunderstorm accompanied with gusty winds & lightning very likely at isolated places over Madhya Maharashtra and Marathwada.
♦ Thunderstorm accompanied with gusty winds very likely at isolated places over East Uttar Pradesh, interior Tamilnadu, Interior Karnataka, north Coastal Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Vidarbha, Chhattisgarh and SubHimalayan West Bengal & Sikkim
08 April : ♦ Heavy rain very likely at isolated places over SubHimalayan West Bengal & Sikkim.
♦ Thunderstorm accompanied with squall and hail very likely at isolated places over Uttrakhand and Odisha.
♦ Thunderstorm accompanied with squall very likely at isolated places over SubHimalayan West Bengal & Sikkim, Bihar, north Uttar Pradesh and Punjab.
♦ Thunderstorm accompanied with gusty winds & lightning very likely at isolated places over Madhya Maharashtra, Marathwada and south Konkan & Goa.
♦ Thunderstorm accompanied with gusty winds very likely at isolated places over interior Tamilnadu, Kerala, Interior & Coastal Karnataka,Vidarbha, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Gangetic West Bengal and East Madhya Pradesh.
09 April ♦ Thunderstorm accompanied with squall and hail likely at isolated places over Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand.
♦ Thunderstorm accompanied with squall likely at isolated places over Punjab.
♦ Thunderstorm accompanied with gusty winds likely at isolated places over Kerala and Haryana, Chandigarh & Delhi.
10 April : ♦ Thunderstorm accompanied with squall and hail likely at isolated places over Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand.
♦ Thunderstorm accompanied with squall likely at isolated places over Punjab and north Uttar Pradesh.
♦ Thunderstorm accompanied with gusty winds likely at isolated places over Haryana, Chandigarh & Delhi.
11 April : ♦ Thunderstorm accompanied with gusty winds likely at isolated places over SubHimalayan West Bengal & Sikkim, Assam & Meghalaya and Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram & Tripura.